GRIMSBY MAN BOARDS TRAIN TO TAKE A BUTCHERS AT BRIGG

BRIGG RAILWAY LINE REPORT FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 

BY PAUL JOHNSON

As per normal  the 0803 Sheffield Midland to Cleethorpes via Brigg service was the busiest. 
At least 30+ customers boarded the train - most of them with luggage, travelling to Retford to catch the 0852 connection to London Kings Cross.
The boardings for customers who kept on the train for the Brigg Line on the 0803 were:

• 4 Woodhouse
• 2 Kiveton Bridge
• 2 Shireoaks 
• 17 Worksop
• 9 Retford
• 2 Gainsborough Central 
• 5 Kirton in Lindsey
• 7 Brigg.

Leaving Brigg there was around 45-50 customers on the 0919 departure to Cleethorpes.
It was pleasing to see again that a number of customers who used the Brigg Line on Saturday were either grasping, or had seen, the new Brigg Line Guide. It looks like the guides are boosting numbers in the quiet periods.
One chap who boarded the 1203 Sheffield Midland to Cleethorpes service at Brigg (1327) said he comes every few weeks from Grimsby to Brigg on the train just to stock up on meat, as the butchers in Brigg have a high reputation.
Another chap I got chatting to on the 1601 Sheffield Midland to Cleethorpes service travels from Grimsby and visits relatives in Woodhouse every few weeks.
He went on  about the lack of an early morning westbound service on the Brigg Line and the need for a future timetable to be more flexible for passengers. He had logged this with Northern and was given the reply that the service levels are under the DfT remit. 
We have now given Northern Rail 6 months' notice to ask for a stock improvement for the 0803 Sheffield Midland to Cleethorpes diagram from Easter to September to cope with people with luggage for Retford and families with buggies going to the seaside.